The Video Games Textbook: History • Business • Technology

Description

The Video Games Textbook takes the history of video games to the next level. Coverage includes every major video game console, handheld system, and game-changing personal computer, as well as a look at the business, technology, and people behind the games. Chapters feature objectives and key terms, illustrative timelines, color images, and graphs in addition to the technical specifications and key titles for each platform. Every chapter is a journey into a different segment of gaming, where readers emerge with a clear picture of how video games evolved, why the platforms succeeded or failed, and the impact they had on the industry and culture. Written to capture the attention and interest of students from around the world, this newly revised Second Edition also serves as a go-to handbook for any video game enthusiast. This edition features new content in every chapter, including color timelines, sections on color theory and lighting, the NEC PC-98 series, MSX series, Amstrad CPC, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Milton Bradley Microvision, Nintendo Game & Watch, gender issues, PEGI and CERO rating systems, and new Pro Files and quiz questions, plus expanded coverage on PC and mobile gaming, virtual reality, Valve Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. Key Features Explores the history, business, and technology of video games, including social, political, and economic motivations Facilitates learning with clear objectives, key terms, illustrative timelines, color images, tables, and graphs Highlights the technical specifications and key titles of all major game consoles, handhelds, personal computers, and mobile platforms Reinforces material with market summaries and reviews of breakthroughs and trends, as well as end-of-chapter activities and quizzes Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Abbreviations Acknowledgments Author Introduction Chapter 1 ◾ The First Video Games Objectives Key Terms and People First-Generation Timeline From Penny Arcades to Pinball The First Interactive Computer Games Tennis for Two Spacewar! Computer Space Magnavox Odyssey Understanding Odyssey Games Pro File: Ralph Baer Pong Pong for Your Home TV Coleco Telstar Color TV-Game Series First-Generation Market Summary First-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 1 Quiz Figures References Chapter 2 ◾ Behind the Technology Objectives Key Terms and People Chapter Outline Introduction Under the Hood CPU Ram and Rom Bios Graphics and Sound Cards Ports Making the Connection Bits and Bytes Hertz and Frame Rate Scanning Systems Monitor Types Video Formats ASCII and Vector Graphics Raster and Polygon Graphics Shaders, Flops, and Cores Color and Lighting Perspective Sound and Music Sound Theory Pro File: Sid Meier Chapter 2 Quiz Figures References Chapter 3 ◾ The Atari Generation Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline The Golden Age The Second Generation Atari VCS (2600) Pro File: Nolan Bushnell Console Comparison Key Atari VCS Titles Magnavox Odyssey[sup(2)] Console Comparison: Odyssey[sup(2)] vs. Atari VCS Key Magnavox Odyssey[sup(2)] Titles Mattel Intellivision Handheld Snapshot: Milton Bradley Microvision Console Comparison: Intellivision vs. Atari VCS and Odyssey[sup(2)] Key Intellivision Titles Colecovision Console Comparison: Colecovision vs. Atari VCS and Intellivision Key Colecovision Titles Atari 5200 Console Comparison: Atari 5200 vs. Colecovision Key Atari 5200 Titles Video Game Crash of 1983 Second-Generation Market Summary Second-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 3 Quiz Figures References Chapter 4 ◾ Early PC Gaming Objectives Key Terms and People Early Computer Timeline Introduction Apple I and II Hardware Comparison: Apple II vs. Atari VCS (2600) Key Apple II Titles Electronic Arts Apple II Successors Atari 8-Bit Family: 400 and 800 Pro File: Steve Wozniak Computer Comparison: Atari 8-Bit vs. Apple II Key Atari 8-Bit Titles Extended Family: Atari 8-Bit Successors Commodore 64 Computer Comparison: Commodore 64 vs. Atari 8-Bit Key Commodore 64 Titles Commodore 64 Successors Made in Japan Nec PC-98 Msx Best of Britain ZX Spectrum Amstrad CPC End of an Era Market Summary Chapter 4 Quiz Figures References Chapter 5 ◾ The 8-Bit Era Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline The Arcade Scene The Third Generation Nintendo Famicom Coming to America Nintendo Entertainment System Handheld Snapshot: Nintendo Game & Watch Console Comparison: Nes vs. Atari 2600 Pro File: Shigeru Miyamoto Key Nes Titles Sega Mark III Sega Master System Console Comparison: SMS vs. NES Key Sega Master System Titles Atari 7800 Prosystem Console Comparison: Atari 7800 vs. NES & SMS Key Atari 7800 Titles Third-Generation Market Summary Third-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 5 Quiz Figures References Chapter 6 ◾ The 16-Bit Era Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline Arcade Revival The 16-Bit Era Pro File: Yu Suzuki NEC PC Engine Turbografx-16 Console Comparison: Turbografx-16 vs. NES Key PC Engine/Turbografx-16 Titles Sega Mega Drive Sega Genesis Handheld Snapshot: Game Boy Console Comparison: Genesis vs. Turbografx-16 Key Mega Drive/Genesis Titles Handheld Snapshot: Atari Lynx Super Famicom Super Nintendo Console Comparison: Super Nintendo vs. Sega & NEC Key Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Titles SNK NEO•GEO AES Handheld Snapshot: Sega Game Gear Console Comparison: NeoŁGeo AES vs. Genesis & Snes Key NEO•GEO Titles Fourth-Generation Market Summary Fourth-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 6 Quiz Figures References Chapter 7 ◾ Sex and Violence Take Center Stage Objectives Key Terms and People Chapter Outline Introduction Who Plays Video Games? Sex and Softporn Adventure Custer's Revenge Leisure Suit Larry Night Trap and FMV Games The Guy Game Grand Theft Auto and Mods Gender, Identity, and Race Early Video Game Violence Mortal Kombat Regulation and The ESRB PEGI, CERO, and IARC Doom and First-Person Shooters Pro File: Doug Lowenstein Rockstar Games and Legislation Effects of Video Game Violence Other Effects of Video Games Chapter 7 Quiz Figures References Chapter 8 ◾ The 3D Era Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline Arcades in Flux The 3D Era 3Do Interactive Multiplayer Console Comparison: 3DO vs. 16-Bit Systems Key 3DO Titles Pro File: Trip Hawkins Atari Jaguar Console Comparison: Atari Jaguar vs. 3DO Key Atari Jaguar Titles Sega 32X Sega Saturn Console Comparison: Sega Saturn vs. 3DO and Jaguar Key Saturn Titles Changes at Sega Sony Playstation Console Comparison: Sony Playstation vs. Sega Saturn Key Playstation Titles Virtual Boy Nintendo 64 Console Comparison: Nintendo 64 vs. Sony Playstation Key Nintendo 64 Titles Handheld Snapshot: Game Boy Color Fifth-Generation Market Summary Fifth-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 8 Quiz Figures References Chapter 9 ◾ Video Games Become Big Business Objectives Key Terms and People Chapter Outline Introduction Game Industry Value Chain Funding Publishing Development Manufacturing Distribution Pro File: Gabe Newell Retail End Users Data Research Big Business Video Game Conventions eSports Market Summary Chapter 9 Quiz Figures References Chapter 10 ◾ The Sixth Generation Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline Arcade Decline and Restructuring The Sixth Generation Sega Dreamcast Console Comparison: Dreamcast vs. Fifth-Generation Consoles Key Dreamcast Titles Sony Playstation 2 Pro File: Ken Kutaragi Console Comparison: Playstation 2 vs. Dreamcast Key Playstation 2 Titles Nintendo Gamecube Handheld Snapshot: Game Boy Advance Console Comparison: Gamecube vs. Playstation 2 Key Gamecube Titles Changes at Nintendo Microsoft Xbox Console Comparison: Xbox vs. Playstation 2 and Gamecube Key Xbox Titles Sixth-Generation Market Summary Sixth-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 10 Quiz Figures References Chapter 11 ◾ The Rise of PC Gaming and VR Objectives Key Terms and People Computer Milestones Timeline Introduction IBM and the Rise of the Clones Gaming in DOS Genre Pioneers of the Early 1990s Windows 95 and 3D Graphics The Golden Age of PC Gaming A New Millennium of MMOs Indie and Social Games Gather [ON] Steam Virtual Online Worlds Pro File: Will Wright Virtual Reality Modern VR Pioneers Trends of the 2010s Subscription and Cloud Gaming Handheld Snapshot: Valve Steam Deck Market Summary Chapter 11 Quiz Figures References Chapter 12 ◾ The Seventh Generation Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline Arcade Apocalypse? The Seventh Generation Xbox 360 Console Comparison: Xbox 360 vs. Sixth-Generation Consoles Key Xbox 360 Titles Handheld Snapshot: Nintendo DS Sony Playstation 3 Console Comparison: Playstation 3 vs. Xbox 360 Key Playstation 3 Titles Pro File: Hideo Kojima Handheld Snapshot: Sony PSP Nintendo WII Console Comparison: WII vs. Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 Key WII Titles Seventh-Generation Market Summary Seventh-Generation Breakthroughs and Trends Chapter 12 Quiz Figures References Chapter 13 ◾ Military, Science, and Education Get into the Game Objectives Key Terms and People Chapter Outline Introduction Early War Games Military Simulation The Bradley Trainer Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator Marine Doom Pro File: John Carmack America's Army Full Spectrum Warrior Darwars Virtual Battlefields AT Ease Video Games in Science Serious Games Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Games with a Purpose Video Game Research Negative Side Effects Positive Impact Brain Development From Science to Education Popular Cots Educational Games Schools Specializing in Gaming Final Examination Chapter 13 Quiz Figures References Chapter 14 ◾ Mobile and Indie Change the Game Objectives Key Terms and People Mobile Platforms Timeline Introduction Mobile and Casual Games Defined Phones Get Smart Mobile Gaming Origins The New Millennium of Mobile Nokia N-Gage The Competition Key N-Gage Titles Other Mobile Developments Gizmondo Still Growing Apple Iphone Early iPhone Games More Platforms than Ever Pro File: Steve Jobs Mobile Milestones Nintendo Goes Mobile Mobile Merits Recent Trends Mobile Gamer Profile Market Summary Chapter 14 Quiz Figures References Chapter 15 ◾ Modern Console Gaming Objectives Key Terms and People Console Timeline The Modern Arcade Modern Console Gaming WII U Console Comparison: Wii U vs. Xbox 360 and PS3 Key WII U Titles Handheld Snapshot: Nintendo 3DS Playstation 4 Console Comparison: Playstation 4 vs. WII U Key Playstation 4 Titles Pro File: Mark Cerny Handheld Snapshot: Playstation Vita Xbox One Console Comparison: Xbox One vs. Playstation 4 Key Xbox One Titles Nintendo Switch NO Comparison Key Switch Titles Next Gen: Xbox Series X|S and Playstation 5 Console Comparison: Xbox Series X|S vs. Playstation 5 Key Xbox Series X|S and Playstation 5 Titles Market Summary Modern Gaming Breakthroughs and Trends Final Thoughts Chapter 15 Quiz Figures References Index